Powder Buoy - Connecting Ski Soul Riders From Hawaii To The Rockies

Mailing List

Sign up for Newsletter
Signup for our newsletter to get notified about Buoy Pops and Powder Buoy news.

Name(Required)
First Last
Email(Required)

CAPTCHA

How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

Powderbuoy Pilsner

Proceeds from Powderbuoy Pilsner sales go to the Utah Avalanche Center (Provided by Park City [...]

10
Nov

What is a Buoypop 101

In 2004 a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Hawaii and [...]

25
Oct

How do I interpret the plume data (Blue line graph)?

The Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Utah is one of the best, if [...]

25
Oct

From Instagram

Permit fishing is the perfect combination of hunting, patience, skill, and luck.
Earlier this year I heard about catching permit on a floating crab pattern — a dry fly for permit. The idea of one breaking the surface to eat seemed unreal… until it became reality.
15 mph NE winds, nervous water, a cast of 55-60 ft into the chop. A few seconds after the fly landed, a permit head breaks the surface and charges the crab. I stop stripping — the fish bumps it and turns away. I keep the slow strip going. One or two seconds later, a second head pops up. I look the fish in the eye. It takes the fly. We’re off to the races.
What most people don’t realize: permit mouths are on the underside of their head, so eating off the surface means the entire head and eyes breach the water. You’re essentially watching a permit porpoise on a dry fly.
Probably the coolest eat I’ve ever seen. So f’n rad. Chance of a pow day right before tax day. #yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Apr 7

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17943796878053100

Permit fishing is the perfect combination of hunting, patience, skill, and luck.
Earlier this year I heard about catching permit on a floating crab pattern — a dry fly for permit. The idea of one breaking the surface to eat seemed unreal… until it became reality.
15 mph NE winds, nervous water, a cast of 55-60 ft into the chop. A few seconds after the fly landed, a permit head breaks the surface and charges the crab. I stop stripping — the fish bumps it and turns away. I keep the slow strip going. One or two seconds later, a second head pops up. I look the fish in the eye. It takes the fly. We’re off to the races.
What most people don’t realize: permit mouths are on the underside of their head, so eating off the surface means the entire head and eyes breach the water. You’re essentially watching a permit porpoise on a dry fly.
Probably the coolest eat I’ve ever seen. So f’n rad. Chance of a pow day right before tax day. #yeahbuoy

Permit fishing is the perfect combination of hunting, patience, skill, and luck.
Earlier this year I heard about catching permit on a floating crab pattern — a dry fly for permit. The idea of one breaking the surface to eat seemed unreal… until it became reality.
15 mph NE winds, nervous water, a cast of 55-60 ft into the chop. A few seconds after the fly landed, a permit head breaks the surface and charges the crab. I stop stripping — the fish bumps it and turns away. I keep the slow strip going. One or two seconds later, a second head pops up. I look the fish in the eye. It takes the fly. We’re off to the races.
What most people don’t realize: permit mouths are on the underside of their head, so eating off the surface means the entire head and eyes breach the water. You’re essentially watching a permit porpoise on a dry fly.
Probably the coolest eat I’ve ever seen. So f’n rad. Chance of a pow day right before tax day. #yeahbuoy ...

449 21

There’s a storm loomin out there in time for April fools/clown day. The plumes are all over the map but we’ll see. I think there could be a little more after this too like I said last time. All those crazy Kona low storms that are sadly flooding Hawaii. I’m going fishing 🎣 #palomettatime

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Mar 25

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17847809487678672

There’s a storm loomin out there in time for April fools/clown day. The plumes are all over the map but we’ll see. I think there could be a little more after this too like I said last time. All those crazy Kona low storms that are sadly flooding Hawaii. I’m going fishing 🎣 #palomettatime

937 18

This is that next chance of now I mentioned a few weeks ago. Looks like there could be some more behind it around the 27, 28th, April 1, 3 , and 8th. I’m secretly hoping for a tax day pow day to keep that tradition alive too. With it being 70 this week, I don’t think most resorts will even make it this far, but I’m just calling em like I see em. No idea if this is going to be snow or rain, that’s been the name of the game all year. I try my best to stay stoked but at this point I’ve got permit fishing on my mind…

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Mar 17

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17916147135317050

This is that next chance of now I mentioned a few weeks ago. Looks like there could be some more behind it around the 27, 28th, April 1, 3 , and 8th. I’m secretly hoping for a tax day pow day to keep that tradition alive too. With it being 70 this week, I don’t think most resorts will even make it this far, but I’m just calling em like I see em. No idea if this is going to be snow or rain, that’s been the name of the game all year. I try my best to stay stoked but at this point I’ve got permit fishing on my mind…

This is that next chance of now I mentioned a few weeks ago. Looks like there could be some more behind it around the 27, 28th, April 1, 3 , and 8th. I’m secretly hoping for a tax day pow day to keep that tradition alive too. With it being 70 this week, I don’t think most resorts will even make it this far, but I’m just calling em like I see em. No idea if this is going to be snow or rain, that’s been the name of the game all year. I try my best to stay stoked but at this point I’ve got permit fishing on my mind… ...

1002 40

This is the next potential shot for a storm around the 24th and then another one looks to be on deck for the 28th, slim pickins out there

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Mar 11

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18363897043164965

This is the next potential shot for a storm around the 24th and then another one looks to be on deck for the 28th, slim pickins out there

530 24

My wife makes fun of me for always coming home saying it was the best day ever. These are a few of those days.
My Seth Morrison Hestras have been with me for 12 seasons — first hikes with my kids, big AK lines, countless days in the Wasatch, and last month touring Japan with my son. He’s on his third season in his own pair now of @hestragloves . Working his way up.
#yeahbuoy #builttolast #hestra #hestramemories

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Mar 3

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17889824340430019

My wife makes fun of me for always coming home saying it was the best day ever. These are a few of those days.
My Seth Morrison Hestras have been with me for 12 seasons — first hikes with my kids, big AK lines, countless days in the Wasatch, and last month touring Japan with my son. He’s on his third season in his own pair now of @hestragloves . Working his way up.
#yeahbuoy #builttolast #hestra #hestramemories

My wife makes fun of me for always coming home saying it was the best day ever. These are a few of those days.
My Seth Morrison Hestras have been with me for 12 seasons — first hikes with my kids, big AK lines, countless days in the Wasatch, and last month touring Japan with my son. He’s on his third season in his own pair now of @hestragloves . Working his way up.
#yeahbuoy #builttolast #hestra #hestramemories ...

613 6

We should see a good pattern of snow starting on the first and lasting until the 8/9th, there’s a lull after that and looks like it could pick back up again around the 24th.

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 27

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18026325884664159

We should see a good pattern of snow starting on the first and lasting until the 8/9th, there’s a lull after that and looks like it could pick back up again around the 24th.

591 15

One two punch coming…. Sorry I couldn’t help myself. #dadjokes #yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 23

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17988902399772023

One two punch coming…. Sorry I couldn’t help myself. #dadjokes #yeahbuoy

1489 27

Next stop lining up for the 27th and then into the first few days of march. The buoy has been on a pretty consistent bounce out there looks to be rolling through the 24th. That puts march 5th to 10th on the radar. Time for this season to redeem itself #yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 22

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17896262214403977

Next stop lining up for the 27th and then into the first few days of march. The buoy has been on a pretty consistent bounce out there looks to be rolling through the 24th. That puts march 5th to 10th on the radar. Time for this season to redeem itself #yeahbuoy

1156 15

Fresh off the wire, official Alta snow lab report just in. Lab deep out there #yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 19

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18086307973937833

Fresh off the wire, official Alta snow lab report just in. Lab deep out there #yeahbuoy

2565 22

Here’s our storm lining up for the 23/24th. It may have been a rough month of no snow, but hey, Dow over 50,000.

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 12

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18116783911612367

Here’s our storm lining up for the 23/24th. It may have been a rough month of no snow, but hey, Dow over 50,000.

951 33

The universe is aligning and pointing in the right direction. Buoy was popping this week and will be this weekend so looks like snow into the beginning of march. It’s about damn time! #yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 12

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18081685748214082

The universe is aligning and pointing in the right direction. Buoy was popping this week and will be this weekend so looks like snow into the beginning of march. It’s about damn time! #yeahbuoy

1730 19

Yes!! Lots of activity over the next week in the pacific, keeping da buoy bouncing,

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 8

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17894461770404029

Yes!! Lots of activity over the next week in the pacific, keeping da buoy bouncing,

1364 20

Japowdreaming… snow in and around the face. #yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 5

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18053325818440951

Japowdreaming… snow in and around the face. #yeahbuoy

140 3

Another buoypop out in Hawaii if this goes as planned should land after Valentine’s Day. This storm leading up into Valentine’s Day is still a little messy, but keeping my fingers crossed.#yeahbuoy

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 4

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 17921794713239057

Another buoypop out in Hawaii if this goes as planned should land after Valentine’s Day. This storm leading up into Valentine’s Day is still a little messy, but keeping my fingers crossed.#yeahbuoy

1276 26

The porcupine has spoken, 6 more weeks of winter…. Hopefully real winter, not this sunny and warm version of winter. On a bright note, it was a nice day for a hike yesterday, spent 6 hours hiking looking for my snow labs who decided to break the electronic fence first thing in the morning. They may be sore and in trouble.

View Instagram post by powderbuoy

Feb 2

Open post by powderbuoy with ID 18033913205777147

The porcupine has spoken, 6 more weeks of winter…. Hopefully real winter, not this sunny and warm version of winter. On a bright note, it was a nice day for a hike yesterday, spent 6 hours hiking looking for my snow labs who decided to break the electronic fence first thing in the morning. They may be sore and in trouble.

932 18

Follow on Instagram